Individuals who wish to immigrate to Spain from Canada face a relatively simple process and first need to comply with the visa requirements. There are two distinct options available: residing in Spain for long-term work or study purposes or staying in the country based on a non-lucrative visa. The visa application for Spain is submitted at an embassy or a consulate general in Canada and the process is subject to a set of conditions.
If you want to immigrate to Spain from Canada, you can count on our lawyers.
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Visa options when immigrating to Spain from Canada
Canadian nationals willing to move to Spain have several options for legally residing in the country for a period of time, after which they can apply for residency in Spain.
- the Spanish golden visa: this is a visa that grants residency to individuals who are able to make an investment in the Spanish economy under various forms;
- the non-lucrative residence visa: suitable for Canadians who are looking to stay in Spain long-term and have the financial means to sustain themselves;
- working in Spain: residing in Spain long-term is possible through an employment contract that is renewed accordingly (at the same time the foreign employee also renews the residence permit);
- studying in Spain: students who are admitted to study in Spain can stay in the country long-term provided that they follow the regulations for holding a valid residence permit and renewing it as needed.
Two other options for obtaining temporary residency in Spain for Canadians concern investments, namely those for capital investors and those for entrepreneurs and those involved in business activities. Opening a business in Spain is an easy process and Canadian investors have the same rights as EU or local entrepreneurs. You can discuss more of these options and the conditions that apply to the business investment with one of our immigration lawyers in Spain.
Canadians who have been temporary residents in Spain for five uninterrupted years can apply for long-term residence. Once permanent residency is obtained, the individual will be able to remain in the country indefinitely and no uninterrupted stays restrictions will apply.
One of our Spain immigration specialists can give you more information on the conditions for uninterrupted stays in the country, for example, the conditions in which the leave is not considered an interruption, such as in the case of holidays or other applicable reasons. We can also assist you if you want to immigrate to Spain from Canada and apply for citizenship.
Whether it is for work or study purposes or simply because they wish to live in a more Mediterranean climate, Canadians interested in emigrating to Spain can reach out to the professional services provided by our team of immigration lawyers. We can also provide the necessary support in applying for a residence permit in Spain.
Documents to prepare when moving to Spain from Canada
Canadian citizens who relocate to Spain must prepare various documents. Generally speaking, these depend on the reason for immigration, however, they are not difficult to compile.
Here is what you should know if you plan to immigrate to Spain from Canada from a paperwork point of view:
- you need to have a valid passport;
- you will also need a lease agreement as proof of living arrangements;
- evidence supporting your reason for relocation is also required;
- a bank statement indicating you have sufficient money to support your stay in the country is also required.
In terms of financial requirements, it is worth noting that the minimum amount required depends on the reason for which you move to Spain from Canada. For example, there are important differences between those who apply for a Spanish nomad visa compared to those who immigrate based on a non-lucrative visa.
You can rely on our immigration lawyers in Spain for updated information on the official financial requirements to meet when moving here. Additionally, you can also ask for other recommendations, depending on the duration of your stay.
Steps after moving to Spain
Once they have applied for and obtained their visa, Canadians can travel to Spain. Once in the country, they are required to register for social security purposes and apply for a foreign identity card. The foreigner’s identification number is required for all foreigners who come to Spain for business, professional or personal reasons and it is a unique number used to identify the foreign citizen.
The application for the foreigner’s identity number (or N.I.E.) is submitted to the Consular Post in the region where the applicant resides. The application form will include the details of the foreign applicant as well as other details.
Canadians who relocate to Spain and live here for ten years can apply for Spanish citizenship. When a Canadian national has been married to a Spanish national for one year, the period for application will be reduced.
Would you like to apply for a residence permit in Spain so you can live and work here if you currently reside outside the European Union? Then you might find a solution under the Spanish law. The Golden Visa, for example, was established to entice investors from outside the European Union. You can learn more from our specialists on how to apply for this visa.
Access to permanent residency in Spain
If you aim to obtain a permanent residence permit in Spain, you should know that the minimum living period is 5 years. However, there are also special categories of immigrants who can obtain the status of permanent resident sooner. Among them, we mention the following:
- self-employed persons and employees who have lived in Spain for more than 3 years and have reached the retirement age;
- self-employed people who want to retire earlier, as long as they have worked in Spain in the last 12 months and have lived here more than 3 years;
- workers and self-employed people who have lived in Spain for more than 2 years and have been permanently incapacitated to complete any work;
- people who worked or have been self-employed in Spain for at least 3 years, have moved to other EU states and continued their activities there while maintaining their Spanish residency.
They can apply for residency after the 2, respectively 3-year periods.
In the case of Spanish citizenship, no living exceptions apply to Canadian citizens. They must live here for 10 years based on permanent residence permits. It is also worth noting that this country does not allow for dual citizenship in the case of Canadians.
No matter the way you decide to relocate, our lawyers can help you respect Spain’s immigration regulations.
Services offered by our immigration lawyers in Spain
Moving to a new country is an important decision and having personalized legal aid can have a tremendous impact on how the process runs, how quickly the visa is obtained, and, in general, on the accommodation period. Working with our Spain immigration lawyers allows visa applicants from Canada to better understand the requirements set forth by the Ministry of the Interior and other governmental bodies, especially with respect to employment, social security of health insurance requirements.
We can help you prepare the documents for the visa application and will provide applicants with a complete list of the needed documents as well as offer permanent counseling on the process, as soon as you begin the visa application in Canada. For those who wish to become employed in Spain, we can help with communication with the employer, perform due diligence on the employment contract, and even assist with the preliminary housing arrangements. We are able to provide full relocation services, with a focus on the legal aspects related to immigration to Spain.
Depending on your needs, we could help you apply for the proper kind of Spanish resident permit. Then, in order to aid the foreign national’s integration into this country, we also provide extra services. We can assist with finding suitable housing, registering with the local authorities, and renewing one’s stay documents.
Contact us for more details on how to immigrate to Spain from Canada.